Ore-separator.



W. P. CLIFFORD J. C. COOK.

ORE SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5. 1915.

Patented Mar. 6, 1917.

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1 ORE'SIEPARATOR.

APPLICATIONVFILED NOV. 5. 1915. 1,218,170.

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WILLIAM F. cmrroan, or OTTUMWA, AND JOHN G. COOK, or a ssnLL, IOWA.

ORE-SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 6, 191 '7.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, WILLIAM P. CLIF- FORD and JOHN C. COOK, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Ottumwa, county of Wapello, and Russell,county of Lucas, respectively, and State of Iowa, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Ore-Separators, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to ore separatorsof the wet type in which wateris used to wash minerals and ore over vibratory tables, and it has forits aim to provide an improved mounting for the tables.

Further, this invention resides in the means for vibrating the tablesand the means for governing and determining the length of the vibration.

The invention still further resides in the features of construction,arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described andclaimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure1 is a side elevation of a separator constructed in accordance with thepresent invention; Fig. 2 is a detailed elevation of the vibrator andthe means for varying the vibration;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the upper table; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionof the machine taken about on line 4.4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the lower table; Fig. 6 is a longitudinalsection of the up per table showing the adjustment thereof forcollecting the finer particles of the ore and gold; and Fig. 7 is adetail sectional view illustrating the cup-shaped dents in the uppertable.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and using similar charactersof reference for corresponding parts throughout the several views, thenumeral 1 designates the hopper or receptacle into which the raw ore isdeposited and from which it is removed by feed elevator 2 for deliveryto the chute 3. This chute is disposed inclinedly above the upper table4 onto which it directs the ore.

From the upper table, the ore is washed and shaken down onto the lowertable 5, the tailings being deposited therefrom to be delivered to thesecond elevator 6 into a second chute 7 from which the material may beremoved, as is obvious.

Numeral 8. designates. the water tank superposed on the frame structure9, and 10 denotes a manifold connected to the tank and carrying aplurality of jets or outlets 10 arranged above chute 3 for dischargingwater on the ore as it slides off onto table 1.

The lower end of table 4 is hingedly connected to the upper end of table5, as at 11, the opposite ends of the tables being braced apart by theadjustable two-part strut 12 whereby the'tables may be adjustedindependently of each other.

A rectangular or box-like frame 13 is suspended by rods 14 from a crossbar 15 of the frame structure 9, the rods 14 being adjustably secured tothe cross bar by nuts 16.

Depending from the frame structure are the supports 17 each slotted atits lower terminal to be adjustably and slidably secured to one of thetables for serving as vertical guides for the latter and limit thelowering movement thereof, one slotted support being fastened to thelower end of the lower table and the other slotted support being securedto the opposite end of the upper table. Thus, the tables may be raisedor lowered by the slotted connections.

J ournaled in suitable hearings on the frame structure is a shaft 18 onwhich is fixed a pair of vibrators or knockers 19 comprising radialblades or lugs adapted to strike against the suspended frame 13 forvibrating or reciprocating the latter and, consequently, shaking thetables.

The movement of the frame 13 is cushioned by a spring 20 interposedbetween one end of the latter and an upright of the frame structure forholding the frame 13 against the vibrators. The tension of the spring isvariable by a nut and screw arrangement 21 for controlling the action ofthe frame.

.A screw 22 is swiveled on the supporting structure 9 at the oppositeend of frame 13, the protruding end of the screw freely entering thelatter. By thus rotating the screw 22, the box-like frame will movetoward or from the vibrators whereby the effectiveness of the latterwill be increased or decreased.

The upper table 4 comprises a series of steps 24 formed of copper and asection of coarse screen or other foraminous material 25 through whichthe ore sifts to the lower table. The lower steps 24 adjacent the screensection are formed with a plurality of cup-shaped dents 26 which arefilled with mercury for collecting the very fine gold.

The lower table has a series of copper steps 27 and a series of screensections, the section 28 being of finer mesh than section 29. Throughthe coarser section 29 fall the tailings and all waste.

As shown in Fig. (3 the tables may be adjusted to be almost horizontallydisposed. whereby the steps will rearwardly incline and formcompartments back into which the water will wash the finer particles ofore and gold.

A suitably mounteddrive 30 operates the shaft 18 by the chain 31 and theelevators by belts 32 and 33.

In practical operation, the ore is delivered from the hopper 1 totheupper table beneath the jets of water which are constantly beingdischarged onto the table. T he tables being angularly related andadjusted vertically to the desired height, are shaken by the vibratorsor cam wheels 19 knocking against the suspended frame, which lattersupports the tables. The ore will gravitate down the inclined tables andthe waste will be discharged through the screens of the second table 5for deliverance by the elevator 6 and chute 7.

From the foregoing detailed description, the operation will clearly beunderstood, and it is intended to modify the construction as permissibleby the appended claims. By omitting the supply of water, and changingthe screens, the separator may be used to sift and clear grain.

hat is claimed is:

1. In an ore separator, a supporting structure, a table adjustablethereon and provided with a series of steps, each of which steps has asubstantially vertical forward wall, relative to the direction of travelof the ore, and a comparatively long uninterrupted rear wall, cushionedvibratory means for the table adjustable to vary the vibration of thetable relative to the degree of adjustment of the latter, and means foradjusting the table whereby the comparatively long rear walls of thesteps may be moved to assume either an upward slope or a substantiallyhorizontal position, part of the steps having cupshaped mercury-holdingrecesses in their long walls.

2. In an ore separator, an adjustably mounted ore table having step-likecompartments and adjustable to vary the capacities of the latter, partof the compartments having cup-shaped mercury-holding recesses, andmeans for vibrating the table, said means being adjustable for varyingthe vibratory movement of the table in proportion to the capacity of theadjusted compartments.

3. In an ore separator, a supporting structure, having spaced uprightmembers, a rectangular frame adjustably suspended from the structurebetween the upright members, a pair of converging ore tables hingedlyconnected at one end and adjustable on the frame, a vibratory means onthe structure between the frame and one of the upright members forengaging with the frame intermediately of the spaced apart ends of theore tables for vibrating the frame and tables, a regulating devicecarried on the specified upright member and adjustably engaging theadjacent end -of the frame intermediately of the spaced apart ends ofthetables to move the frame toward and from the vibrator means, and acushioning member carried by the other of said upright members andengaging with the opposite end of the frame.

- 4. In an ore separator, an adj ustably mounted ore table havingstep-like compartments and being adjustable to vary the capacities ofthe latter, part of the compartments having cup-shaped mercury-holdingrecesses, and means for vibrating the table.

In testimony whereof we afiiX our signatures.

WILLIAM P. CLIFFORD. JOHN C. COOK. lVitnesses:

N. E. CARPENTER, D. H. BAUM.

Copies oi this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

